Strategic Management of Wastewater from Ranches and Cattle Lots and Their Value-Added Products
摘要
Ranch and cattle lot operations are intensive animal production systems, generate large amounts of manure, solid wastes and wastewater. These wastes contain high concentrations of organic matter, nutrients, antibiotics, hormones, contaminants and pathogens. The importance of effective manure and wastewater management systems in cattle farms is of great concern because of the risks to the environment and public health. This chapter highlights the characteristics of the wastewater from the cattle ranch and feedlot operations, environmental impacts of the waste effluents of the operation as well as the description of the different practices including physical, biological, AI- assisted, chemical as well as integrated practices adopted in the management of the wastewater. The challenges, constraints and benefits of resource recovery and reuse of the wastewater is highlighted for stakeholders. The potential value-added products from the cattle lot wastewater are enumerated for consideration.